Wax dolls like Glory, the doll in Doll Hospital #3: Glory's Freedom, were popular in the 1800s. The best wax dolls had heads, arms, and legs made of solid wax. These parts were made by pouring hot wax into metal molds. Indentations were made in each face for glass eyes. The dolls' bodies were made of stuffed cloth.

Because wax was expensive, some wax dolls were not made of solid wax. Instead, they were made of paper mâché that was dipped in wax. The wax coated the paper mâché in a thin layer. From the outside, dolls made this way looked like dolls made of solid wax. But they weren't as sturdy.

Not many old wax dolls have lasted until today. Wax is easily damaged. In the 1800s, homes were often heated by fireplaces. A wax doll could melt if a child accidentally left it too near the fire. If a doll was left in the sunshine, the wax could change color. Its' skin would turn from peach or brown to white. The colors on its lips and cheeks might fade.

In the 1800s, rats sometimes tried to nibble on wax dolls. So doll makers got smart. They added something to the wax that tasted bad, so rats wouldn't try to snack on wax dolls!

Copyright © 2002 by Joan Holub